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Smoking and heart disease

How smoking affects the arteries, and what happens when you stop.

Medically reviewed by: Dr Prashant Bamania, Consultant Radiologist

Last medically reviewed: 29 August 2026

In preparation. This page is being written and medically reviewed. Sections marked as editable placeholders, and any reference shown as [REFERENCE TO BE VERIFIED BEFORE PUBLICATION], must be completed with verified sources before publication.

At a glance

  • A plain-English overview of smoking and heart disease is being prepared and medically reviewed.
  • Always follow the specific instructions given by your own hospital or healthcare team.

What is it?

EDITABLE PLACEHOLDER — a plain-English explanation of smoking and heart disease, written for a non-medical reader.

Why does it matter?

EDITABLE PLACEHOLDER — why this is relevant to a person's health, without alarm.

How is it investigated?

EDITABLE PLACEHOLDER — the tests and scans usually used, and what each one involves.

What might imaging show?

EDITABLE PLACEHOLDER — what a radiologist looks for, described in everyday language.

What can happen next?

EDITABLE PLACEHOLDER — typical next steps after results, including reassurance, monitoring or referral.

What can I do?

EDITABLE PLACEHOLDER — practical, evidence-based things a person can do.

When should I seek medical advice?

EDITABLE PLACEHOLDER — clear guidance on when to contact a GP, and when to seek urgent care.

What does the evidence say?

EDITABLE PLACEHOLDER — a short plain-English summary of the strongest available evidence on smoking and heart disease, with numbered inline citations that match the References section below.

Current UK guidance (NICE, NHS and the relevant professional societies) takes priority over older or lower-level evidence.

Video explainer

Video coming soon

Video explainer coming soon.

Captions and a transcript will be published with each video.

Trusted resources

External links are provided as trusted resources. Live, Onward is not responsible for third-party content.

References

  1. 1.[REFERENCE TO BE VERIFIED BEFORE PUBLICATION]

Evidence status

Medically reviewed by:
Dr Prashant Bamania, Consultant Radiologist
Last medically reviewed:
29 August 2026
Next review due:
29 August 2027
Evidence last searched:
29 August 2026

Editorial status: draft — not for publication. Every claim must be checked, each journal citation verified against PubMed (DOI and PMID), and all external links confirmed to reach the intended authoritative source. Recommendations must reflect current UK guidance.